ODYSSEY BOOK VI
HERE then slumbering lay long-suffering godlike Odysseus
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All o'ermastered by sleep and by weariness, while that Athene
Hastened to visit the land Phaeacia's city and people.
These once dwelt in the city of spacious squares Hypereia,
Near the Cyclopian people, a race that with pride overweening
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Harried them ever and spoiled them and proved more mighty in warfare.
Godlike Nausithöus thence moved them and found them an island,
Scheria, distant from all bread-nourished races of mortals.
Here did he circle a city with ramparts and builded the houses;
Shrines for the gods he erected and meted the bounds of the corn-lands.
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Conquered howbeit by Fate had he gone to the mansion of Hades.
Now reigned Alcinous, who was wise by the counsels of heaven.
His was the mansion she entered, the grey-eyed goddess Athene,
Planning to bring once more to his home great-hearted Odysseus.
Straight to a rich-wrought chamber she went, wherein was a maiden
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Slumbering, like to a goddess immortal in form and in feature,
Nausicäa, sole daughter of Alcinous great-hearted.
Near to her two of her damsels, of beauty endowed by the Graces,
Lay by the post of the door, and shut was the glittering portal,
Yet as a breath of the air to the couch of the maiden the goddess
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Glided, and standing anigh to her head these words she addressed her,
Taking the form of the daughter of Dymas, mariner famous,
One that in age was her equal and dear to the soul of the maiden;
Such was the form, as she spake, of the grey-eyed goddess Athene:
"Nausicaa, how comes it thy mother has borne thee so heedless?
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Lo, still wholly neglected thy glistering raiment is lying
While that thy wedding is nigh and thou needst right beautiful garments
Both for thyself and to give a supply to the friends that escort thee.
Yea too, such is the way in the which one's good reputation
Spreadeth abroad, and a daughter rejoiceth her father and mother.
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So come, go we a-washing as soon as the daylight appeareth!
Lo, I will come as thy comrade and share in the labour, that quickly
All shall be ready; for soon we shall see thee a maiden no longer,
Since thou art woo'd by the best of the whole Phaeacian people,
Chiefs of the race from the which thou also thy lineage drawest.
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Come and solicit thy father renown'd, that betimes in the morning
Mules and a wagon be harnessed in readiness, such as to carry
Girdles and garments and all our bundles of glistering bedding.
Yea, and for thee 'twere better to drive than wearily wend it
All upon foot; for the place of the washing is far from the city."
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Thus did she speak, and departing the grey-eyed goddess Athene
Won to Olympus; for here, it is said, the abode everlasting
Stands of the gods, which winds ne'er shake nor ever a rain-storm
Wetteth, and never a snowflake falleth, but cloudless the aether
Spreadeth above, and over it floateth a radiant whiteness.
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Here dwell happy the blesséd immortals for ever and ever.
Hither the goddess betook her whenas she had counselled the maiden.
Now in her glory enthroned came Morning, and soon she awakened
Fair-robed Nausicaa, who marvelling much at the vision
Passed to the outer apartment to make all known to her parents,
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Even her father beloved and her mother; and soon did she find them.
Nigh to the hearth was her mother, amidst of the women her handmaids,
Spinning a wool of the rich sea-purple. Her father she happed on
Issuing forth of the palace to join the illustrious chieftains
Met in a council, to which Phaeacian nobles had called him.
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Nigh to her well-loved father she stood while thus she addressed him :
"Father beloved, say, wouldst thou not bid them prepare me a wagon
Lofty and strong on the wheels, our beautiful clothing to carry
Down to the river—whatever is soiled? I am wishful to wash it.
Yea and for thee it is seemly, whene'er thou consortest with nobles,
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Sitting at counsellor meetings, to wear clean clothes on thy body.
Five dear brothers moreover of mine were born in thy palace.
Two are wedded indeed; but the three are younger and lusty,
Clamouring alway to have their garments fresh from the washing
Ere to the dances they go. — Which things were ever my duty."
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Thus did she speak, for her gladsome marriage it irked her to mention
E'en to her father beloved; but he noticed it all, and he answered:
"Neither the mules do I grudge thee, my child, nor anything other.
Go, an thou wilt and the servants shall soon make ready a wagon
Lofty and strong on the wheels, well fitted besides with an awning."
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Thus did he speak and commanded the servants, who quickly obeying
Out in the court made ready a wain smooth-running, a wagon
Harnessed for mules and the mules were brought and yoked to the carriage.
Carrying then from her chamber the glistering garments the maiden
Carefully stowed them away in the smooth-wrought car of the wagon.
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Then in a box were placed by her mother provisions delightsome,
Every kind, and the relish she added, and wine she decanted
Into the skin of a goat; and the maiden ascended the wagon.
Then in a vial of gold soft oil of the olive she gave her,
Bidding her bathe and anoint her, and also the women her handmaids.
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So with the whip in her hand and the glistering reins did the maiden
Whip to a start; and a clatter arose, and the two mules tugging
Strained unflaggingly forward and carried the clothes and the maiden.
Neither alone did she fare: she was followed by others, her women.
Now when at last they arrived at the beautiful stream of the river,
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Here the perennial basins they found where waters abundant
Welled up brightly enough for the cleansing of dirtiest raiment.
So their mules they unloosened from under the yoke of the wagon,
Letting them wander at will on the bank of the eddying river,
Browsing on clover as sweet as the honey, and then from the carriage
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Bearing within their arms to the deep dark water the garments
Cast them in trenches and trod them in rivalry one with another.
So, when the raiment was washed and was thoroughly cleansed of the dirt-stains,
All on the shore of the ocean in order they spread on the shingle
Where it is washed by the tides of the sea as they sweep to the dry land.
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Then did they bathe, and anointing themselves with the oil of the olive
Sat them adown to the midday meal on the bank of the river,
Leaving the garments to dry on the beach in the glare of the sunlight.
Now when in food they had fully delighted, both she and her maidens,
Casting aside their scarfs with a ball they betook them to playing,
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White-armed Nausicaa with the choral melody leading.
E'en as descending a height moves Artemis, darter of arrows,
Either on Taygetus long-ridged or on huge Erymanthus,
Taking delight in the chase of the boar and of timorous roe-deer,
Whilst all round her the daughters of Zeus who beareth the aegis,
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Nymphs of the woodland, play—and Leto sees it rejoicing;
Even as over the rest uplifting her brows and her forehead
Easily known in her beauty she stands, though fair be the others,
Thus shone forth in her beauty the maiden amidst her attendants.
Now when at last it was come to the moment of homeward returning,
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After the mules were yoked and folded the beautiful garments,
Other was then the device of the grey-eyed goddess Athene,
E'en that Odysseus awaking and seeing the fair-faced maiden
Her might follow as guide and reach Phaeacia's city.
Seizing the ball, at a maiden among her attendants the princess
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Flung it, but missing the maiden it fell in a bottomless eddy.
Piercingly all of them shrieked; and godlike Odysseus, awakened,
Sat straight up and pondered thereon in his heart and his spirit:
"Ah me! what is the folk whose country I now am arrived at ?
Dwell here savages wanton and wild, despisers of justice?
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Have they a love for the stranger and hearts that revere the immortals?
Lo, how piercing a cry as of maidens ringeth around me,
Nymphs peradventure that dwell on precipitous summits of mountains,
Or by the fountain springs of the rivers and leas of the lowlands;
Else, maybe, I am near to a folk of articulate language.
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Nay, go to, I will test for myself this matter and view it."
These words uttered, from under the bushes the godlike Odysseus
Issued, and breaking a branch with his powerful hand from the thicket
Girdled his body with leaves, its nakedness striving to cover.
Thus in the pride of his strength from his lair in the mountain a lion
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Stalks forth soaked with the rain and battered with wind, and his two eyes
Flame as he prowleth abroad midst droves of the sheep and the oxen
Or on the track of the deer, and often his belly will bid him
Making assay on the flocks e'en strong-built granges to enter;
So to the fair-tressed maidens Odysseus was fain to betake him,
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Though all naked his body—on such distress was he fallen.
Sight terrific he seemed to the maidens, disfigured with sea-brine.
Hastily hither and thither in panic they fled to the sand-spits.
Sole stood firmly the daughter of Alcinous; for Athene
Gave to her courage of heart and took from her limbs all trembling;
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Facing him calmly she stood; and Odysseus pondered within him
Whether as suppliant clasping the knees of the beautiful maiden,
Or as he was, at a distance, to speak soft words of entertainment,
Begging her show him the city and grant him the gift of a garment.
Thus as he pondered thereon, this plan seemed surely the better,
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Holding apart, from a distance, to speak soft words of entreaty,
Since that by clasping her knees he was fearful to anger the maiden.
Straightway therefore a word both gentle and cunning he uttered:
"Thee, O Queen, I implore. O.. whether a goddess or mortal!
Art thou a goddess of those who inhabit the infinite heaven—
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Then it is Artemis surely, the daughter of Zeus the Almighty,
Both in thy form and thy stature and beauty to whom thou art likest.
Art thou a daughter of man, and dwellest on earth as a mortal,
Happy I deem, yea three times happy, thy mother and father,
PATTEN WILSON.
NAUSICAA AND ODYSSEUS
Happy and three times happy thy brothers; for surely exultant
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Gloweth in gladness the spirit within them, whene'er they behold thee
Entering into the dance, so lovely a flower of girlhood.
Yet, ah, how in his heart more happy than every other
He that with gifts shall prevail and homeward lead thee as lover!
Never till now have seen mine eyes such beauty in mortal,
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Man nor woman : amazement possesseth me while I behold it.
Suchlike wonder indeed by Apollo's altar in Delos
Once I beheld—uprearing its column a sapling of date-palm;
(Yea, e'en thither I came, and was followed by many a fighter,
Holding a course whereon sore sorrow was fated to meet us).
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Even as then this wonder beholding I marvelled in spirit,
Long time gazing—for ne'er such shaft from the earth shot upward—
Thus, O lady, I marvel at thee and am greatly astonished,
Fearing thy knees to approach, though sorrow hath fallen upon me.
Yester-e'en to the shore I escaped from the wine-dark ocean.
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Nineteen days from the isle Ogygia billows and storm-blasts
Ceaselessly bore me, and hither at last some deity cast me,
Planning, meseemeth, that still I shall suffer; for never, I fear me,
All of my travail shall end till the gods much more shall accomplish.
Nay, O Queen, have pity! To thee, outworn with my labours,
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Lo, as a suppliant first I am come, and of others I know not
Any, of all of the folk that inhabit this town or the country.
Show me the city, and give me a garment, to cast it about me,
Even a rag, or the wrapper perchance that thou broughtst for the linen!
So shall the gods all blessings bestow that thy soul desireth—
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Husband and home; and oneness of heart may heaven vouchsafe thee,
Blessing supreme—since nought can be wished that is greater and better
While united in heart and in mind are dwelling together
Husband and wife. 'Tis a sight brings sorrow to wishers of evil,
Joy to the wishers of good; but the joy in their hearts is the loudest."
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Then spake white-armed Nausicaa, and addressed him in answer:
"Stranger, for truly thou seemest a man nor evil nor foolish—
Zeus, our Father in heaven, alone allotteth to mortals,
Unto the good as the evil, to each as he willeth, his fortune.
He, as I doubt not, hath given thee this thou wilt have to endure it.
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Lo, now—since thou art come and hast reached our country and city,
Neither of clothes shalt thou fear to be lacking nor aught that thou needest,
Such as is due to the poor and the wretched from those that he meeteth.
Gladly the town will I show thee, and tell thee the name of the people:
Folk Phaeacian dwell in the land and inhabit the city.
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I myself am the daughter of Alcinous great-hearted,
Even the king who upholds Phaeacia's might and dominion."
Thus did she speak, and exhorted the fair-tressed girls, her attendants:
"Tarry, my girls! Why thus at the sight of a man do ye scatter?
Surely ye never can hold him for one of a nation of foemen!
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Not on the earth there's living the mortal, nor ever shall live one,
Such as shall come to the shores of the great Phaeacian people
Bringing the ravage of war; for the gods everlasting befriend us;
Yea, and apart do we dwell, far over the foam of the ocean,
Furthest of races, nor ever doth visit us other of mortals.
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Lo—it is some poor wight that is come in his wanderings hither.
Him it is right that we help. It is Zeus our Father that sendeth
Strangers and beggars; and e'en though small, some gift will be grateful.
Therefore give to the stranger to eat and to drink, O maidens;
Bathe him too in the stream where 'gainst all wind is a covert."
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Thus did she speak, and they halted and called each one to the other;
Then in a covert they seated Odysseus for so had commanded
Nausicaa, fair daughter of Alcinous great-hearted.
Also beside him they laid for his raiment a mantle and tunic,
While in a vial of gold soft oil of the olive they gave him,
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Bidding him thoroughly cleanse him and bathe in the stream of the river.
Then forthwith to the maidens the godlike Odysseus addressed him :
"Handmaids, stand ye apart so long, until I shall wash me
Off from my shoulders the brine, and well with the oil of the olive
Rub me for truly anointing is long to my body a stranger.
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Here in your presence I never will bathe, since shyness forbids me
Thus to divest me in front of the faces of fair-tressed maidens."
So did he speak, and returning again to the lady they told it.
Then in the stream of the river his body the godlike Odysseus
Cleansed of the brine all over his back and his shoulders encrusted,
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Rinsing his hair from the foam of the barren expanses of ocean.
So when at last he was bathed and anointed with oil of the olive,
After himself he had clad in the garments, the gift of the maiden,
Then by Athena the goddess, the daughter of Zeus the Almighty,
Taller and stronger to view he was made, while down from his head fell
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Clustering thickly the locks of his hair, as the flower hyacinthine.
Even as gold o'er silver is poured by an artist—a craftsman
Taught in his art by the god Hephaestus and Pallas Athene
Manifold skill, and of beauty is every work that he fashions;
Thus did she pour forth grace on the shoulders and head of Odysseus.
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Then withdrawing he sat him adown on the shore of the ocean
Gleaming in beauty and grace, and with marvel the maiden beheld him,
Nausicaa; and she spake to the fair-tressed girls, her attendants:
"Hearken, my white-armed maidens, attend to the words that I utter!
Verily nought but the will of immortals that dwell in Olympus
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Granteth this stranger to reach Phaeacia's glorious nation.
Erstwhile truly methought he was right ill-favoured in person;
Now he is like to the gods who the infinite heaven inhabit.
Would that a man like this might win him the name of my husband,
Should he be pleased to remain in the land and to settle amongst us!
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Therefore give to the stranger to eat and to drink, O maidens!"
Thus did she speak, and attentive they listened and followed her bidding
Quickly they set both viands and drink by the side of the stranger.
Then did he drink and eat, long-suffering godlike Odysseus,
Eagerly—seeing in truth no food long while he had tasted.
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White-armed Nausicaa in the meanwhile plotted it elsewise :
Folding the clothes, in the car of the beautiful wagon she laid them,
Ordered the strong-hoofed mules to be yoked, then, mounting the carriage,
Unto Odysseus she turned and thus she addressed him, and urged him :
"Rouse thee, stranger, to come to the city, that now I may bring thee
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Unto my home; for my father is wise, and there in his palace
Soon thou shalt make thee acquainted with all Phaeacia's princes.
Lo now, thus shalt thou act and thou seemst not lacking in wisdom.
While in the fields and the meadows we pass and the tillage of farmers
Keep thee anigh to the maidens, and after the mules and the wagon
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Hasten thy steps and follow us closely the way I shall guide thee.
After we enter the city around it a battlement runneth
Lofty, and lying to left and to right is a beautiful harbour.
Narrow the mouth of the port, and the mole is defended by vessels,
Twy-beaked galleys that lie on the slip, each one at its station.
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Next is the square, that environs the beautiful shrine of Poseidon,
Fitted with flags hauled down from the quarries and deeply embedded.
Here one busily works at the black ships' tackle and rigging,
Cables and sails, and here one planes and tapers the oar-blades;
Since Phaeacian men care nothing for bows and for quivers;
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Only for masts and for oarage they care and for well-built vessels,
Proudly rejoicing in which on the grey-green ocean they voyage.
Their rough slanderous speech will I shun, lest any hereafter
Utter reproach—and in truth right insolent folk are among them.
Ay, now too peradventure a clown might meet us and mutter :
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Lo there, Nausicaa! Who follows her, burly and handsome ?
Plainly a foreigner! Where did she find him? 'Tis clearly a bridegroom!
Either she's got for a guest a deserter from one of the vessels,
One of a far-off race—since nobody liveth anigh us—
Or at her urgent entreaty a longed-for god is descended
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Down from the heights of the heaven to have and to hold her for ever.
Better in sooth if she wanders abroad and procures her a husband
Elsewhere, seeing she holds in dishonour the men of her country,
All Phaeacian youths, so many and noble, that woo her.'
So will they speak; and for me such words might turn to dishonour;
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Yea and myself would censure another for doing this action,
One that in spite of her friends, with her father and mother alive still,
Mingled with men, till come was the day of her open espousals.
Give now heed to my words, O stranger, that quickly as may be
Escort safe and return to thy country my father shall grant thee.
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Nigh to the road thou'lt find a luxuriant grove of Athene,
Where amid poplars welleth a fount; and around is a meadow.
Near to the place is my father's domain with a flourishing orchard,
Lying as far from the town as the voice of a shouter will carry.
Here shalt thou seat thee and rest thee awhile, till into the city
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I and my maidens be come and arrived at the house of my father.
Now when at last thou shalt deem us assuredly come to the palace,
Start once more, and passing within Phaeacia's city
Ask for the house of my sire, King Alcinous great-hearted.
Easily known is the palace, and even a boy will direct thee,
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Even a child, since like to the house none other is builded,
No Phaeacian dwelling—so goodly the home of the hero
Alcinous. Now, passing the shade of the court and the outhouse,
Hastily traverse the hall, until to my mother thou comest.
Here doth she sit at the side of the hearth in the glow of the firelight
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Spinning a wool of the deep-sea purple, a wonder to gaze at.
Leaning her chair on a pillar she sitteth with maidens behind her.
Close to the chair of the queen there leaneth the throne of my father.
Here doth he sit when he draineth his wine-cup like an immortal.
Him pass hastily by, but my mother approach, and entreat her
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Clasping her knees with thy hands; and the joyous day of returning
Soon shalt thou see—yea, though far distant lieth thy country.
Shouldst thou be able to gain of my mother her heart and her favour,
Then good hope will be thine to revisit thy friends and in safety
Win to thy well-built home once more and the land of thy fathers."
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Thus did she speak, then raising above her the glistering whip-lash
Smote at the mules, and they left right quickly the streams of the river.
Briskly they trotted and briskly with paces inwoven they ambled,
While with the rein she withheld them, applying the lash with discretion,
So that the maids and Odysseus behind might easily follow.
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Now was a-setting the sun, and they came to the glorious coppice,
Grove of Athena; and here did he seat him, the godlike Odysseus.
Forthwith then did he pray to the daughter of Zeus the Almighty:
"Daughter of Zeus who beareth the aegis, thou Maiden unwearied,
List, O list to me now—though never thou heardst me aforetime
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Smit by the billows of ocean, when smote me the King Earth-shaker.
Grant me to win of the folk Phaeacian favour and pity!"
So did he speak in his prayer, and she hearkened, the goddess Athene,
Though not yet to his eyes she appeared in a manifest vision,
Fearing the brother of Zeus, who still in his furious anger
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Raged at the godlike Odysseus—until he arrived at his homeland.
“Nausicaa” (1878), Frederick Leighton (English, 1830–1896).
